Underwater breathing device



Aug. 21, 1962 Filed June 29, 1960 R. G. VAUTlN 3,050,055

UNDERWATER BREATHING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i Haber! a. VaufinINVENTOR.

BY @Mm WWW Aug. 21, 1962 R. G. VAUTIN 3,050,055 I UNDERWATER BREATHINGDEVICE Filed June 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Robert 6. Vaufm INVENTOR.

Aug. 21, 1962 R. G. VAUTlN 3,05

UNDERWATER BREATHING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1960 3 Sheets$heet 3 RobertG. Vaurin INVENTOR.

9 BY WW Em 3,050,055 UNDERWATER BREATHING DEVICE Robert G. Vautin, 19Paterson Ave., Nutley, NJ. Filed June 29, 1960, Eel. No. 39,482 8Claims. (Cl. 1*2$145) This invention relates to a novel and usefulunderwater breathing device, and more particularly to an underwaterbreathing device which is specifically adapted to communicate with theair above the surface of a body of water and provide the swimmer wearingthe breathing device with air from the surface at the pressure of theWater at the depth at which the diver is swimming.

The underwater breathing device includes at least one air pump which iscarried by the swimmer and is adapted to be operated by the normalswimming movements of the swimmer and an inlet line for the air pump isprovided and connected to the pump at one end while the other end isspecifically adapted to be secured to a float which will maintain thatend of the inlet line above the surface of the body of water in whichthe diver is swimming. The outlet of the air pump communicates with theinterior of a sealed pressure chamber which in turn is provided with adelivery conduit extending therefrom and provided with any suitablemeans adapted for communication with the lungs of the diver on the freeend thereof. It is to be noted that the free end of the delivery conduitis preferably provided with a mask adapted for sealing engagement withthe nose and mouth area of the face of a diver, but that it may also beprovided with a mouthpiece adapted for removable securement in the mouthof a diver. Suitable check valves are provided in the inlet lineadjacent the air pump for restricting backward movement of air from theair pump to the surface of the water and check valves are also providedat the outlet of the air pump for restricting backward movement of airfrom the pressure chamber to the air pump.

The delivery conduit secured to the pressure chamber and adapted forengagement with the face area of a diver may also be provided with anoutlet passage if the delivery conduit is provided with a mask adaptedto cover both the mouth and nose area of the diver with an outletopening being provided for the outlet passage and a check valve disposedin the outlet opening. If a delivery conduit provided with an outletpassage is used, then it will also be necessary to provide a check valvein the delivery conduit for restricting the reverse flow of airtherethrough.

The air pump is specifically designed to be operated by the legs of adiver by means of his normal swimming movements and the air pumpconsists of at least one cylinder having a piston slidably disposedtherein for movement toward and away from the feet of the diver so thata flexible member secured between the piston and the feet of the diverwill reciprocate the piston in the cylinder of the air pump as the legsof the diver are extended and retracted. In this manner, the diver mayprovide himself with sufficient air for breathing purposes from thesurface of the water up to depths of approximately twenty-five feet.Inasmuch as the air pump will become increasingly ditlicult to operateas the depth is increased, the depth at which a diver may obtain airfrom the underwater breathing device depends upon the strength andphysical condition of the person using the underwater breathing device.Naturally even greater depths may be obtained if the diver is inexcellent physical condition and is stronger than average.

The main object of this invention is to provide an underwater breathingdevice which will enable persons to enjoy underwater sports with maximumsafety and at low cost to the swimmer for his underwater breathingdevice.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide an underwater breathing device includingan air pump operable by an underwater swimmer by means of his normalswimming movements and means for communicating the air pump with the airabove the surface of the water in which the diver is swimming.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pressure chamber incommunication with the outlet of the air pump whereby small quantitiesof air may be stored for breathing purposes if the diver wishes to relaxfor short periods.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pressure chamberconstructed of flexible material imperviou to air so that the pressurewithin the pressure chamber will be equal to that of the water disposedoutside thereof thereby automatically compensating for the air pressureneeded by the diver.

A further object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide anunderwater breathing device which will conform to conventional forms ofmanufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to providea device that will be economically feasible, relatively trouble free inoperation and operable by less experienced swimmers with a high degreeof safety.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the underwater breathing deviceshown strapped to the back of an underwater swimmer;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the underwater breathing device withparts thereof being broken away and shown in section and the face maskand delivery conduit therefor being shown in perspective;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the face mask illustrated inFIGURE 2 taken substantially upon a plane passing through thelongitudinal center line of the delivery conduit, parts of the mask andpressure chamher being broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view on somewhat of anenlarged scale of the float utilized to maintain the free end of theinlet line above the surface of the water;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the slipper attachment by which a diver0r swimmer may operate the air pump by means of his feet, the outline ofa foot being shown in phantom lines; and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the slipper attachment shown inFIGURE 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, and to FIGURE 2 inparticular, it will be noted that the underwater breathing device isgenerally designated by the reference numeral 10. A hollow pressurechamber generally referred to by the reference numeral 12 is providedand has secured to one end thereof one end of a delivery conduitgenerally referred to by the reference numeral 14 which communicateswith the interior of the pressure chamber 12. The pressure chamber 12also has a pair of air pumps each generally referred to by the referencenumeral 16 secured thereto which also communicate with the interior ofthe pressure chamber 12.

With particular reference to FIGURE 1 of the drawings it will be notedthat the pressure chamber 12 is provided with a harness 18 for strappingthe underwater assess '.of the standpipe 42.

breathing device to the .back of a diver generally referred to by thereference numeral 20.

The air pumps 16 project rearwardly from the pressure chamber 12 towardthe feet 22 of the diver 20. Each of the air pumps includes an elongatedcylinder generally designated by the reference numeral 24 which issecured to the pressure chamber 12 at its forward end. The forward endof the cylinder 24 is provided with a closure wall 26 having an outletopening 28 formed therein which communicates with the interior of thepressure chamber '12.

Each of the air pumps 16 is also provided with an inlet opening 30 andan inlet line generally referred to by the reference numeral 32 isprovided for communicating the inlet openings 30 with the air above thesurface of the water 34. The inlet line 32 is forked at its lower endadjacent the air pumps 16 and each leg 36 is secured to one of the inletopenings 30.

. With particular reference to FIGURE 5 of the drawings it will be notedthat the free end of the inlet line 32 is secured to a hollow annularfloat generally. referred to by the reference numeral 38 which mayeither be constructed of a rigid material or of a flexible material andinflated to provide a buoyant support for the free end of the inlet line32. A circular bracing wall is secured between the inner peripheralsurfaces of the annular float 38 and a standpipe generally designatedby' the reference numeral 42 is secured through the bracing wall 40 inany convenient manner. The upper end of the standpipe 42 terminates in aback turned portion 44 and the lower end thereof projects slightly belowthe'circnlar bracing 40 and has the upper end of the inlet line 32secured thereto. If it is desired, a mooring ring 46 may be provided onthe float'38 for securing the float to a stationary object or tongue 94.

Thus, it may be seen that the annular float 38 will support the upperend of the inlet line 32 above the surface of the water 34 and that theback turned portion 44 will tend to restrict the entrance of water intothe upper end If it is desired, suitable valving means may be providedin the back turned'portion 44 of the standpipe 42 for positivelyprecluding the entrance of water thereinto and subsequently into theintake line 32.

With particular attention directed now to FIGURES 2 and 3 of thedrawings it will be noted that each of the cylinders 24 is provided witha plurality of longitudinally extending channels 48 which slidinglyguide the radially extending lugs 50 formed on the corresponding piston52.

An expansion spring 54 is secured between each closure wall 26 and theconfronting surface of the corre sponding piston 52 to normally urge theassociated piston '52 forwardly in its cylinder 24. The rear end of eachof the cylinders 24 is sealed against the entrance of water into therear end thereof by means of a flexible diaphragm 56 secured over therear end thereof. Each of the diaphragms 56 is generally conical inshapeand has its cen- 'ter sealingly secured about a portion of thecorresponding flexible member 58 intermediate the opposite ends thereof.The forward ends of the flexible members 58 are each "secured toone ofthe pistons '52; The flexible members 58 project rearwardly from thepistons 52 and extend out of the rear ends of the cylinders 24. The rearends of the -fl'exilile members 58 each have a circular ring 60 secured'thereto which is in turn secured to the forward end of one -ings 30 areeach provided with a check valve 68 of any .convenient type utilized toprevent reverse flow of air through the corresponding inlet line 32. Theoutlet openings 28 are each also provided with a check valve designatedby the reference numeral 70 and which may be of any convenientconstruction to restrict the flow of air from the pressure chamber 12into the associated cylinder 24.

Each of the slipper attachments 66 comprises a sole member 72 and astrap 74 which is adapted to receive the forward portion of each of thedivers foot 22. The rear end of the flexible members 62 may beconveniently secured to the rear portion of each of the correspondingsole 72 by passing the end of the flexible member 62 through thecorresponding aperture 64 and knotting that portion of the flexiblemember 62 projecting through'that aperture 64 as at 76.

It will be noted, see FIGURE 4, that the delivery conduit 14 is dividedinto two passageways. The delivery passage 78 is in communication withthe interior of the pressure chamber 12 and the interior of the'facemask which is generally designated by the reference numeral 80. The facemask 80is of a size and shape to conform to the nose and mouth area ofthe face, 82 of the swimmer and is held in sealing engagement therewithby means of the head strap 84.

The delivery passage 78 has'a check valve 86 disposed therein forpreventing reverse flow of air therethrough and the outlet passage 88 inthe delivery conduit 14 communicates with the interior of the mask 80and is provided with an outlet opening 90 which is also provided with acheck valve 92. The check valve 92 of course is to prevent entrance ofwater into the outlet passage 88'.

It is to be understood that the inlet line 32 may be constructed of anyconvenient length and that a tongue 94, see FIGURES 1 and 2, is providedfor maintaining the unneeded portion of the inlet line 32 in a neat andcoiled state on the pressure chamber 12.

The pressure chamber 12 is preferably formed of aflexible and expandiblematerial which is impervious to the passage of air. The pressure chamber12 is thus constructed to enable it to collapse or yield under thepressure of the water at the level of the diver which will automaticallymaintain the pressure of the air within the pressure chamber 12 at thesame level as the water disposed outside the pressure chamber 12 andaround the diver 20. Of course, the pressure chamber 12 could beconstructed of rigid material and provided with suitable automaticpressure regulating valves in the delivery conduit 14 for supplying thediver 20 with air at the correct pressure or a rigid pressure chamber 12could be provided with an expandible compartment disposed in theinterior thereof. This expandible compartment would be communicated withthe water pressure disposed on the exterior of the pressure chamber 12which would then enable the expandible compartment to expand until theair within the pressure chamber 12 was at the same pressure as the surrounding water.

Additionally, as previously set forth, the mask 80 could be substitutedfor by a mouthpiece adapted to be inserted in the mouth of the swimmer20 in accordance with the individual preference of the'person using theunderwater breathing device 10. In operation, the pressure chamber 12 isstrapped to the back of a swimmer 20 in the manner shown and the slipperattachments 66 are secured to the feet 22 of the swimmer 20. The freeends of the flexible members 62 are then secured to the circular rings60 whereupon the pistons 52 are operatively connected with the slipperattachments 66 for reciprocating movement within the cylinders 24 uponmovement of the slipper attachments 66 toward and away from the airpumps 16. Thus, as the swimmer 20 proceeds beneath the surface of thewater 34 his normal swimming movements will cause rearward movement ofthe pistons 52in the cylinders 24 which will enable air to enter theforward portions of the cylinders 24 through the inlet openings 30 andthe check valves 68. As the legs 96 of the swimmer 20 are relaxed, theexpansion springs 54 will draw the pistons 52 forwardly in the cylinders24 to compress the air disposed therein and force the pressurized airinto the pressure chamber 12. In this manner, air from above the surfaceof the water 34 may be supplied to the pressure chamber 12 underpressure from -where it may be taken by the swimmer 20' through thedelivery conduit 14.

It is of course to be understood that the depth at which the underwaterswimming device may be used will be limited by the strength of theswimmer who, in operation of the air pumps 16, will have to exert a pullon each of the flexible members 62 greater than one-half pound persquare inch of area of the pistons 52 for each foot in depth at whichthe underwater breathing device 10 is being operated inasmuch as waterpressure increases at the rate of approximately one-half pound persquare inch for each additional foot of depth obtained.

However, the underwater breathing device is extremely simple inconstruction and may be manufactured at ,considerably less cost than theconventional type of scuba equipment. It will be noted that the checkvalves 68, 70, 86 and 92 can be constructed very simply and it will benoted that the length of the inlet line 32 limits the depth at which theunderwater breathing device 10 can be operated as well as the strengthof the swimmer 20 so that the swimmer 20 will always be fairly near tothe surface of the water 34 with the float 38 providing a visual meansof determining at least the approximate position of the swimmer 20.

If the underwater breathing device 10 is operated at shallow depths, itis quite possible that the amount of air supplied by the air pumps 16will be greater than that required by the driver 20. In this instancethe pressure chamber 12 will continue to expand until the tensioning ofthe chamber 12 is suflicient to raise the pressure of the air thereinabove that of the surrounding water. When the air pressure within thechamber exceeds a predetermined level above that of the surroundingwater the pressure relief valve 98, see FIGURE l, will vent the excesspressure. This relief valve 98 could be provided with audible signalingmeans to signal an excess of air if it is desired whereby the diver 20could then relax his legs for a short period of time until the airsupply within the chamber 12 is nearly exhausted.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

- What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An underwater breathing device comprising a sealed pressure chamber,a delivery conduit having one end in communication with the interior ofsaid chamber, means on the other end of said conduit adapted for sealingengagement with a portion of the face of a swimmer and communicationwith his lungs, at least one air pump having a discharge openingcommunicating with the interior of said chamber, an inlet opening insaid air pump, an inlet line having one end sealingly secured to saidinlet opening and the other end adapted for positioning above thesurface of a body of water, and operating means operatively connected tosaid air pump and adapted for securement to a limb of a swimmer formovement therewith to operate said pump, means on said chamber adaptingthe latter to be strapped to the back of a swimmer, said pump comprisinga hollow cylinder secured to said chamber and projecting toward the feetline into said cylinder and preventing the flow of air from the cylinderback into the inlet line and permitting the air to flow from thecylinder into said chamber and preventing the flow of air from thechamber back into the cylinder respectively, means disposed in saidcylinder resiliently urging said piston forwardly therein, means sealingthe rear end of said cylinder, said operating means comprising aflexible member having one end secured to said piston and the other endadapted for securement to the foot of a swimmer.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprises aflexible diaphragm secured over the rear end of said cylinder, saidflexible member passing through the center of said diaphragm in sealingengagement therewith.

3. The combination of claim 1, including guide means in said cylinderslidably guiding said piston.

4. The combination of claim 1, including a float secured to the otherend of said inlet line for resiliently maintaining the latter above thesurface of a body of water.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said float comprises an annularhollow member, a circular bracing wall secured between the innerperipheral surfaces of said float, a standpipe secured through saidbracing wall and projecting upwardly therefrom and terminating in a downturned portion, the lower end of said standpipe sealingly engaged withsaid other end of said inlet line.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said pressure chamber isconstructed of flexible air impervious material.

7. The combination of claim 1, including a slipper attachment adaptedfor engagement with the foot of a swimmer, said other end of saidflexible member being secured to said slipper attachment.

8. An underwater breathing device comprising a sealed pressure chamber,a delivery conduit having one end in communication with the interior ofsaid chamber, means on the other end of said conduit adapted for sealingengagement with a portion of the face of the swimmer and incommunication with his lungs, at least one air pump having a dischargeopening communicating with the interior of said chamber, an inletopening in said air pump, an inlet line having one end sealingly securedto said inlet opening and the other end adapted for positioning abovethe surface of a body of water, and operating means operativelyconnected to said air pump and adapted for engagement by a limb of aswimmer for movement therewith to operate said pump, means on saidchamber adapting the latter to be secured to a swimmer, said pumpcomprising a hollow cylinder, a piston slidably disposed in saidcylinder for reciprocating movement therein, said inlet and dischargeopenings of said pump being formed in one end of said cylinder, a checkvalve in said inlet opening and a check valve in said discharge opening,said check valves permitting air to flow from the inlet line into saidcylinder and preventing the flow of air from the cylinder back into theinlet line and permitting the air to flow from the cylinder into saidchamber and preventing the flow of air from the chamber back into thecylinder respectively, means disposed in said cylinder resilientlyurging said piston toward the other end of said cylinder, means sealingsaid one end of said cylinder, said operating means comprising anelongated actuator having one end portion secured to said piston and theother end portion adapted for engagement by a limb of a swimmer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS667,840 Guthrie Feb. 12, 1901 1,901,219 Belcher Mar. 14, 1933 2,896,616Arborelius July 28, 1959 2,906,263 Wolshin Sept. 29, 1959 2,939,457 FayJune 7, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,062 France July 26, 1828 1,139,978 FranceJan. 4, 1956

